City Police lieutenant suspended

Irv Oslin Published: June 13, 2006 12:00 AM

By IRV OSLINT-G Staff WriterA City Police lieutenant has been suspended for conducting a robbery investigation while intoxicated and acting inappropriately.Lt. Geoff Thomas, head of the departments detective bureau, was suspended for 30 working days without pay in connection with his conduct April 12 at Clark Avenue Laundry and Tanning. Uniformed officers at the scene reported Thomas smelled of alcohol, was stumbling and joked and acted in a flirtatious manner with two female victims, who had been robbed at knifepoint.Thomas, who has been the subject of sporadic disciplinary actions during his 26-year career with the department, also received a last chance warning letter from Mayor Bill Strine.The mayor warned Thomas that further misconduct or behavior unbecoming a police officer could result in his immediate termination.Thomas, 48, began serving his suspension May 29 and will remain under suspension until July 7.He also was ordered to undergo substance abuse evaluation and counseling.The department conducted an investigation into Thomas behavior at the scene of the robbery after the victims filed a complaint. His fellow officers collaborated the victims report indicating Thomas appeared to be intoxicated.Thomas was not on duty that night, but was on stand-by status. Department policy requires officers on stand-by to be fit for duty and to refrain from alcohol use at least four hours before reporting for duty.Uniformed officers, who were at the robbery scene, also reported Thomas conducted rambling and sometimes flirtatious interviews with the victims.The suspect in that case, Larry D. Thompson, pleaded guilty last month to aggravated robbery, abduction and possession of criminal tools. Thompson, 45, of Delafield Avenue is scheduled for sentencing Monday in Common Pleas Court.According to information in Thomas personnel file, suspensions were ordered on three previous occasions. However, in two cases, he was given other options. He also has been reprimanded for misconduct on at least two other occasions.In the latest incident, which occurred in August 2003, Thomas opted for forfeiture of 40 hours paid leave time in lieu of serving a five-day suspension. In that case, a mistrial was declared in Common Pleas Court after Thomas spoke to a defense witness waiting outside the courtroom to testify.In Thomas absence, Joel Icenhour is serving as acting sergeant in charge of the detective bureau. Sgt. Tim Shreffler is serving as acting lieutenant.City Police Chief Bill Miracle declined to comment on Thomas actions or the suspension.A phone listing for Thomas could not be found.n Irv Oslin can be reached at 419-281-0581 ext. 240 or at ioslin@ times-gazette.com.